The City by Stella Gemmell Read Free Book Online Page B

high cry or a groan, then the woman would turn and grin at him. He had no idea what the grin meant.
    At last, when he felt he could not move another step, the woman stopped and told him he could rest. They were in a narrow corridor, rough-hewn and dry, and the boy fell to the floor, exhausted. He dozed for a while and when he opened his eyes again several people were sitting around him eating. His stomach growled painfully.
    He licked dry lips. ‘Please. Can I have some food?’
    They all glanced at the woman, who nodded, and a man gave Elija a flat round of grey bread. He ate it eagerly, looking round at his companions. The woman was tall and stout, and her hair was long and grey, her face red and stern. Her name was Badger. The man with the deep rumbling voice was a giant, taller than any Elija had seen in the Halls, with shoulders and arms like slabs of meat. He kept looking at Elija and smiling at him, revealing a few grey teeth.
    ‘Please,’ the boy offered nervously, ‘I would like to go back to the Hall of Blue Light. I want to find my sister. She was lost in the storm.’
    There was a long pause and he thought they would ignore him again. Then Badger leaned towards him and bared her teeth. Elija thought of the gulon and its wide yellow smile.
    ‘The Hall of Blue Light, eh?’ she said. ‘It just so happens we’re going there. In a couple of days. We have business there. We will take you back to your sister, boy.’
    As she spoke Elija saw a fat louse run out of her hairline and downher face and dive into the plait of grey hair. He imagined the plait was teeming, heaving, crawling with insects. But he tried to smile at her, grateful for her kindness.
    He wondered if the old gruff man and Anny-Mae had got home safely. And if Em was with them. For the first time since the storm he slept peacefully.
    When he awoke he was being dragged to his feet and they were on the move again. He wondered how far they would go this time, but the food in his stomach had given him some strength, and he marched alongside Badger, looking up at her occasionally, thankful that he had found a friend. Again they travelled without stopping for many hours. At one time they all had to squeeze through a low narrow tunnel, half filled with water, which turned and cornered until Elija thought it would never end. It was much easier for him than for the adults, and he wondered how it was possible the giant could make it through. But he did, for the boy heard his voice rumbling behind as they pressed on.
    At the end of this long march, when they had stopped only once to eat and rest, they clambered through a narrow cleft in the rock and came out on to a wide highway. Elija gazed around. The roof of the tunnel was so lofty the torchlight could not reach it. A small stream trickled down the centre of the way, which was otherwise bone dry and dusty. Downstream Elija could just make out what looked like an enormous bridge spanning the way. Upstream there was only darkness.
    Badger ordered a halt and her companions slumped to the ground. Some rummaged in their rags for food or drink, others fell asleep instantly. Elija was hungry and he looked around hopefully, but they all turned away, even Badger, and, stomach grumbling, he fell deeply asleep.
    ‘Boy! Wake up. Boy!’
    He felt hot breath wet in his ear, tickling, and he squirmed away in his sleep.
    ‘Boy!’ Sharp fingers pinched his earlobe and he awoke with a start. He tried to yell, but found a hand hard over his mouth, mashing his lips against his teeth. His eyes flew open and searched around in the gloom. Someone’s matted hair was over his face and he could barely see. Panicking, he struggled to get away.
    ‘Boy, listen to me. You must be quiet,’ the voice hissed. ‘Will you be quiet?’
    He nodded, then drew in a breath to yell as soon as the grip on his mouth relaxed. But his captor was not fooled.
    ‘We must escape,’ he heard, and it slowly filtered into his brain that his captor